Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 239, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1912 — Lely the Painter. [ARTICLE]

Lely the Painter.

Sir William Lely had agreed for the price of a portrait he was to draw for a rich London aiderman, who was not indebted to nature either for shape or face. The picture being finished, tbe aiderman endeavored to beat down the price, saying that if he did not purchase it it would remain on the painter’s hands. “That’s a mistake,” said Sir William, "for I can sell it at double the price I demand." "How can that be?” says the aiderman, "for it is like no one but me.” “True," replied Sir William, “but I will draw a tail to it and then it will be a capital monkey.” The aiderman at once paid down the money demanded and carried off the picture.